Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, September 5, 1896.
NO CIRCUS TO-DAY.
SO MUCH WIND THAT BARNUM DID NOT SHOW.
Fears of the Cyclone
Experience of July 23, 1884, Which Cost the Show Over
$20,000-Tents Were
Half Full, but Money Was Refunded -Everybody Disappointed- No Circus To-night.
For a
second time within a generation the Barnum & Bailey "Greatest Show on Earth"
has pitched its tents in Cortland and has failed to go through with its performance.
The other time was on July 23, 1884, when the cyclone descended on the tents
and picked them up from the ground and then threw them back again, while
nineteen people were badly hurt, many others slightly so, and thousands were
terribly frightened. For years after that the Barnum circus gave Cortland a
wide berth and declined to come near the town.
The
second time when there was no show was this afternoon. This time the performance
had not begun, but the wind was high and the clouds threatening. Early this
morning the town began to fill with people. It seemed as though half of
Cortland county was here, and a considerable proportion of adjoining counties.
Many arrived early to see the show unload. After the parade, which was
concluded about 10:30 o'clock the crowd surged down to the grounds to look over
the tents, the horses, the show people and if for no other reason to be near
the show itself. By 12:30 o'clock the thousands were again headed toward the show
grounds and by 1 o'clock the tents were rapidly filling.
But
the wind was coming up. There were whirling clouds of dust. The rain clouds
above were thick and heavy. About 1:30 o'clock one of the managers went through
the tents and announced that they had decided to give no afternoon exhibition. They
were afraid of the weather. They had had one experience with wind in Cortland
and that had cost them $20,000. They didn't care to repeat it. The ground was
soft and the land stony and if the wind should increase the posts holding the
guy ropes would not hold. They were sorry to disappoint the people, but it was
a measure of safety. The money would be refunded at the doors.
Then
there was a rush for the gates. The jam for tickets was nothing like the jam
for money, and it was pretty largely free silver too, for the money was almost entirely
refunded in silver. The carryalls which had been reaping a harvest in carrying
people to the show grounds almost doubled their money in carrying them back
again, for many who had walked to the grounds were anxious to ride back again
to get in out of the wet. But the rain was no respecter of persons. Before half
the crowd had got away it began to fall in torrents. After every one had been well
soaked down by the first burst it settled into a steady drizzle which continued
up to the time The STANDARD went to press.
It was too bad that the storm should come on this
day, and it was too bad to disappoint so many, but it was wise to be prudent.
The wind did not prove to be sufficient to have torn down tents, but it is
really better that some people should be disappointed than that there should be
a repetition of the experiences of twelve years ago.
The
tents were to-day located upon Owego-st. across the street from where the
cyclone found them before. A word of explanation is due at this time as to the
fact that The STANDARD announced that the circus would exhibit on the Allport
lot on Tompkins-st. Mr. Dean, an advance agent of the show, was in Cortland
last Saturday and requested us to publish the item as to the location of the
tents, saying he had himself seen the contract that afternoon which had been
made by another agent who had preceded him. All the contracts, however, read
that so much will be paid for the use of the land, if used. When the man arrived yesterday
afternoon to stake out the lot for the tents other arrangements were made, but
it was too late to give notice of the change. Still there is never any trouble but
that a circus will be found.
The
parade was one of the best ever seen in Cortland. It was nearly a mile long and
presented all the various things that were advertised and was worth going a
long distance to see. It was a beautiful spectacle. It was artistically and
attractively arranged and it was gorgeous with color. The sleek horses gave
evidence of excellent care, while the caged animals also had the appearance of
being well groomed and well fed. There were more than the usual number of open
cages. The usual monotony of gilded cages was broken by troops of riders
mounted on gaily caparisoned horses and with herds of camels, rare specimens of
wild cattle and droves of elephants. Another novel feature of the parade was
squads [of] cavalry representing every nation of the earth.
There
were in the parade 234 horses, 32 ponies, 3 zebras, 5 mules, 7 camels and 19
elephants. It may be of interest to know the color of the horses and ponies.
The horses were bay 88, gray 68, black
35, chestnut 31, sorrel 9, cream
3. Of the ponies there were: bay 10, black 10, gray 6, spotted 8, sorrel 2, cream 1.
At 3
o'clock this afternoon the elephants, camels and other animals on foot were
taken down to the [railroad] cars and loaded. At 4 o'clock the cages followed. It was then
officially announced to The STANDARD that there would be no show to-night. The
circus trains will soon start for Syracuse.
The Cortland News, Friday, July 25, 1884
Cyclone in Cortland.
BARNUM'S TENT COLLAPSES. NONE
KILLED BUT SEVERAL WOUNDED.
ALL RECOVERING AT LAST ACCOUNTS.
Wednesday
morning the valley of Cortland was wet with heavy dew, but that did not prevent
a lively thundershower falling about 7 o'clock. As the day advanced the heat became so intense as to
change the mud into dust, and when the people were going to Barnum's tents on Owego street the dust, moved by
a light west wind, flew in gusts, while the heat seemed like that from a furnace,
the clouds being much scattered.
About 12,000 persons were in the circus tent. Nearly 3 o'clock had arrived, and the people were enjoying the wonderful feats in the rings, when darkness settled upon the audience and became "visible," as it were, and many timid ones left. Evidently a storm was at hand. To prepare for it the canvas about the tour main or center poles was lowered and drawn taut. The elephants which had been performing were ordered out before their acts were completed. Three race horses with riders cantered around the ring to take positions. Rain had begun to fall in torrents. The horses were ordered out of the tent. Suddenly a terrific gust of wind tore across the tent from the southwest, lifted the canvas about the south center pole, and tore up the fastenings.
Men
rushed forward and grasped the ropes, and the order, "Hold on to
them," was heard. The next act in the bewildering scene was the violent flappings
of the tent just north of the dressing-room on the east side and the flying of
poles, stakes and chains in every direction outside and among the people in the
immediate vicinity. The audience had risen to their feet, and the order came,
"Keep your seats," but who ever knew a panic-stricken crowd to obey a
sensible order. The people rushed from the tent or sank between the seats and
so beneath the canvas and out into the furious storm, where they speedily
became drenched. A few only remained in the tent, but they soon left as it was
feared that the poles might fall. All being out the canvas was lowered to the
ground.
The menagerie tent was standing, and thither many flocked, but the elephants were very uneasy and fearing a stampede the people were advised to go out. At the onset of the storm the cages had all been secured, so no danger was feared from the animals.
Several
persons had been injured, but the managers and employees, who had acted quickly
but coolly, with Mr. Hutchinson to direct, procured carriages and took them to
the residences of physicians for examination and treatment. In the meantime all
sorts of exaggerated reports were spread by persons who knew nothing of the
facts, and who if they did not willfully lie, must have depended on their
imagination. Anywhere from thirty-five or forty to two hundred or more had been
killed according to these reports, and so chief engineer Cleary, hearing that
the tent had blown down and buried the crowd beneath it and that help was
needed, ordered the fire-bell rung. This created intense excitement, and hundreds of persons rode and ran to the grounds only to find their services not
needed.
After the people got out of the tent they ran in every direction to escape an expected stampede of the animals. The buildings in the vicinity were quickly filled, many persons struck out for the woods on the hill nearby, while others stopped not until they had reached their homes in the opposite parts of the village.
With the exception of a few who were bruised, the employees of the circus escaped uninjured. They all behaved with admirable coolness, and it was owing to this that the damage to life and property was not greater.
Many
had already purchased tickets for the evening entertainment but the money for
these was refunded. Very many persons were injured, but only a few that could
be called seriously so. Of the latter were Cornelius Brown of Marathon, both
bones of whose forearm were fractured, back and chest hurt and bruises on
various parts of his body; Vin. Hicks of Cold Brook, concussion of brain; M. B.
Hurlbut of Cuyler, concussion of brain and chest injured; Dell Tarbell of
McGrawville, concussion of brain; Ed. Stillson of Cortland, blow on neck,
partially unconscious for a few hours; Mrs. Hannah Keefe, an elderly lady of
Cuyler, upper part of body cut and bruised.
J. French of Killawog, Maggie Miles and Frank Dearman of Homer, Milton Wavle of Freetown, Asa Gates of Truxton, Willie Shufelt of Cuyler, Lyman Olmstead of Groton, Asa Gates, Jr. of East Homer, and Mrs. George Sherman, George A. Fairbanks, Elpha Adams, Lloyd Richardson, James Sheridan, S. C. Shultz, and Edward Rood, of this village, were either cut or bruised about the head or neck, and some of them quite severely. We are glad to learn that all will probably recover, though in the case of Mr. Brown, Mr. Hicks, and Mrs. Keefe, some time will elapse.
Drs.
Hyde, Dana, Henry, Bolles, and others of our physicians were kept busy that
evening attending to the wants of the injured, the most of whom were taken to
their homes at once.
The managers of the show gave orders to spare no pains or expense in caring for the wounded, and Mr. Hutchinson was in Cortland on Thursday to look up the cases in person. He placed them in the hands of Judge Smith and John Courtney, Jr., for settlement, stating that though not legally responsible, the management desired to pay all expenses, loss of wages, physicians' fees, etc. They intend to visit Cortland again, and were unwilling to leave any ill feeling behind.
All
accounts from those who saw the storms (for there were two of them, coming in
opposite directions) centering on Cortland,
shows that unusual violence from the elements was anticipated, but no one
thought for a moment that a
whirlwind would strike a small part of
the huge circus tent. Nothing less, however, can explain the terrific force
manifested and the disastrous results.
The Cortland News, Friday, December 5,
1884.
Barnum Sued.
Last week Cornelius C. Brown, of Marathon, through
his attorneys, Messrs. Duell & Benedict, of this place, sued Messrs.
Barnum. Bailey & Hutchinson,
proprietors of the Barnum and London shows for $10,000 damages on account of
injuries received by him through the blowing down of the tent during the
exhibition in Cortland, in July last. He was severely injured in various ways
by the accident, and it is claimed that he is crippled for life. The
plaintiff's attorneys claim negligence on the part of Barnum, Bailey & Hutchinson, in not providing
a suitable tent, properly constructed. They claim that the liabilities of the show
proprietors are the same as those of a railroad company in taking passengers.
The Barnum company have twenty days in which to serve an answer. Judge A. P.
Smith will defend them.
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